CASE STUDIES OF SEVERE FRONTAL COLLISIONS INVOLVING FULLY-RESTRAINED OCCUPANTS

This paper reviews results from the in-depth investigation of a series of fifteen, real-world, motor-vehicle collisions. Primary criteria for this study were that the case vehicle should have been involved in an impact approximating a 50 km/h, frontal, barrier collision, and that at least one of the vehicle's occupants was fully-restrained. Particular attention is paid to the severity of the collisions and their relationship to full-scale barrier crash tests. In addition, the manner of use of individual restraint systems, and the mechanisms of occupant injury are discussed. The results of this study provide a valuable insight into the performance of three-point restraints in severe frontal collisions. This study forms part of a major research effort in Canada intended to develop improved criteria for the performance of occupant restraint systems. Part of this project involves producing new test devices and methodologies which, eventually, may be included in the Canadian motor vehicle safety regulations. Initially, the scope of the project has been restricted to a consideration of fully-restrained occupants in frontal impacts. The work has included modifications to the hybrid III dummy to provide better bio-fidelity with respect to both seat belt loading of the thorax, and the potential for facial bone fractures. In order to evaluate the validity of these modifications, an in-depth investigation programme has been conducted on real-world collisions. The cases reported here form part of this investigative programme. (Author/TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  American Association for Automotive Medicine

  2350 East Devon Avenue, Suite 205
  Des Plaines, IL  United States  60018

  Tulane University

  6823 Saint Charles Avenue
  New Orleans, LA  United States  70118
• Authors:
  • Green, R N
  • German, A
  • GORSKI, Z M
  • NOWAK, E S
• Conference:
  • 31ST ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR AUTOMOTIVE MEDICINE
  • Location: NEW ORLEANS LOUSIANA, United States
  • Date: 1987-9-28 to 1987-9-30
• Publication Date: 1987

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 309-323
• Monograph Title: PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTY FIRST ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR AUTOMOTIVE MEDICINE, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, SEPTEMBER 28-30, 1987

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash investigation; Dummies; Frontal crashes; Manual safety belts; Performance; Regulations; Traffic barriers
• Uncontrolled Terms: Barriers
• ITRD Terms: 1643: Accident; 1618: Anthropometric dummy; 8525: Conference; 9011: Design (overall design); 1640: Head on collision; 1648: Impact test (crash); 9048: Modification; 9149: Prevention; 1476: Safety belt; 1623: Severity (accid, injury); 5408: Speed; 1715: Vehicle occupant
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00470471
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Institute for Road Safety Research, SWOV
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1988 12:00AM